Object of desire
June has been extremely hot with temperatures well above normal and no rain for relief. The grasses have dried and things a look a little barren but that’s to be expected with temperatures in the 100s week after week. Fortunately the mesquite and huisache continue to provide shade and show their hardiness as do the monkeys.
Sun, Rain, Blooms, and Life
In the last post I said we were glad for the warming trend and relief from the cold — OK, enough with the heat, is Fall coming soon? It’s been in the mid to upper 90s for some time and we’re seeing the monkeys locating shade and water earlier in the afternoons. Though it’s hot and will be even hotter as summer arrives, there’s always some fun to be had by “kids” of any age (or species) as the picture shows.
Spring greening
Spring has arrived at the sanctuary and everyone (including humans) is enjoying the warmth and the return of the color green. While the winters here are relatively short, the cold nights can be taxing and we were all ready for the change. The old mesquite trees signal an end to winter when they emerge from dormancy and they are now flush with new growth. Though it remains very dry — only 3/4 inch of rain in over 2 months — everything is greening up nicely as the flora here is very hardy and wonderfully adapted to this environment.
Update on Winnie
Winnie, the recently arrived rhesus macaque retired from research, continues to do well. She has settled into her new life and is certainly enjoying the fresh and varied fruit and vegetables we are providing her. She patiently sits and watches if monkeys in the nearby enclosures are fed before her, taking a keen interest in what is going on, vocalizing as if to tell me that she is still waiting.
Retired from research
Winnie, a 15-year-old rhesus macaque, arrived at the Sanctuary this week. She came to us after having spent many years in a research laboratory. This is probably the first time she has ever been outdoors and experienced fresh air and sunshine.
Holiday feast
While most of the country seems to have suffered severe winter storms over the holiday period, we got off lightly with just a couple of cool days before the temperatures hit the 80s again. What a difference the sunshine makes to the monkeys’ daily lives (and to us humans)! They so enjoy just soaking it up, lying around lazily, sleeping and grooming each other.
Tag
A varied week on the weather front. On Sunday, the monkeys were enjoying a sunny afternoon as temperatures hit the 80s. By Monday morning, however, that had all changed. The sky was cloudy as the temperature dipped to around 50. It won’t be too long, however, before the temperatures rise again. The sun usually shines all year round here in South Texas.
A new building for the Sanctuary
A busy week for the Sanctuary. Work has started on the construction of a much needed utility building. This will help make day-to-day work at the Sanctuary much smoother. The building will contain a new monkey food preparation area.
